324 REVIEW OF AMERICAN BIRDS. [PART I. 
Bill stout, deep, much compressed, somewhat resembling 
Cyclorhis. 
Wings pointed, although first quill is about two- 
fifths second, which about equals secondaries: 
the fifth longest ; claws stouter than Vireosylvia, 
although proportions much the same. Bill 
with fine longitudinal furrows : : - Laletes. 
Legs stouter; claws large and strong; the lateral toes nearly 
equal; the claws of both reaching nearly to or beyond the 
middle of the central claw. Hind toe lengthened. First 
quill about half the second, which usually equals secon- 
daries ; fourth generally longest. 
Bill slender, as in Vireo, but more conical, the culmen 
straighter, not convex at end, and but little decurved. 
Wings about equal to the somewhat rounded tail . Hylophilus. 
Bill very stout and Shrike-like 5 : “ 4 - Cyclorhis. 
Bill rather more slender thanin last . * . - Vireolanius. 
Having thus presented the characters of the genera of Vireonide, 
before taking them up in detail I propose to present some general 
views in regard to the typical members of the family, or Vireosylvia 
and Vireo, the true Vireones. Few groups of American birds, of 
the same extent, exhibit such diversities of form, there being scarcely 
any two tnat agree closely in the shape and proportions of the wings, 
tail, feet, &c., while the larger number stand isolated and single in 
their minuter peculiarities of external anatomy. 
The colors, however, are very uniform; the upper parts being 
olivaceous or ashy, the under white, varied with yellowish; the 
face variously striped; the wings with or without light bars across 
the coverts, and light edgings on the secondaries; the tail feathers 
unspotted. The iris in many species is red, yellow, or white; the 
bill horn color or plumbeous; the legs always dusky. In one 
species (atricapillus) the head above is black ; in josephe it is dark 
brown. ; 
In view of the great variations of form in the different species, 
and their gradual transition from one character to the other, there 
would be but little violence done by considering all as belonging to 
the single genus Vireo. Those, however, with long-pointed wings 
and short even tail, with very small spurious primary or none, may 
perhaps be conveniently separated, as Vireosylvia from Vireo, the 
former to include Vireosylvia proper, with its slender body and 
straight, rather weak bill, and ZLanivireo, with its stouter form, 
thick, curved, and powerful bill and stronger feet, like a miniature 
Shrike. The gradation from one species to the other of Vireo, as 
